As summer months arrive, though without the usual heat, we begin to receive many guests to our respective churches. Last week we were happy to host so many Catholics traveling to and from Yosemite National Park, enjoying the beautiful area in which we live. I am not sure we will be opening St. Dominic Savio in Bass Lake to the outside, since it has been very unusually cool on Sunday mornings, but the large crowds in Bass Lake have been great. The change of the time from afternoon to morning has been greeted by many tourists and regular visitors quite well. Many like to be open to go to Mass before heading out for the day or before they travel back home. I am grateful to the many of you who supported the idea, and for the sacrifice this might have meant for some of you.
Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the great feast of the birth of the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our Pentecost Vigil Mass on Saturday evening will be slightly longer due to the Church's desire that we pray for the urgency of the Holy Spirit on the Church and the world. This Pentecost Vigil, while it has always been there, was no used often, but it will be mandated next year along with other changes coming to us on November 27th, with the publications of the new Roman Missal.
We continue to encourage our parishioners to be aware and supportive in assisting the many of those who lost homes in Missouri by giving to the American Red Cross or to Catholic Charities, USA. Both of this agencies are doing great work in bringing relief to the many who have suffered such horrible devastation due to the recent tornados in the Midwest.
The Gift Shoppe is looking for volunteers to staff the store on Saturday afternoons following the evening Mass. If you are able to give one weekend to help assist Dee, please call the parish office.
Fr. Mike
Today, the Church celebrates her official beginning as the power of the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and the other disciples of Christ, including Mary, Mother of the Lord, in the locked upper room. This power from God, which inflamed the passion of the believers would lead the followers of Jesus out of the locked room to preach the Word Incarnate. Many would die for their new-found faith. This Spirit-filled passion continues to enliven the Church throughout history, even in times of scandal, pain, suffering, and persecution. As we have entered the 21st. century, that passion is found in the lives of men and women dedicated to the Church. To the faithful laity who continue to pray, sacrifice, trust, and support their local parishes in spite of the misdeeds of other disciples, even the ordained and vowed. To the faithful bishops, priests, deacons, and Religious who continue to press in their ministries even though many have left active ministries for various reason in these past few years. Yet the Spirit gives us hope and empowers us to grow ever stronger and to be confident that we are doing what God called us to do. This is the Holy Spirit at work!
Father's Day 2011
Next weekend is Father's Day. We will set up a special memorial prayer area in each of our churches to remember all of the deceased fathers of the parish. There is an envelope, much like an All Soul's Envelope which you may use if you wish to have remembered a deceased father at Liturgy. You may bring your envelope to the parish office, or to the church prior to Mass on Sunday, June 18th. We failed to do this for Mother's Day, but will do so next year. We will attempt to make envelopes available this Sunday if possible.
Yours truly is celebrating another milestone tomorrow, the 13th. I will be reminded of my age now for a while as I look at every 55 mile an hour sign post. How did this happen?! Fr. Mike
Happy Father's Day!
The parish offers best wishes to all the fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, godfathers, and spiritual fathers on this Father's Day 2011. So many of our fathers give witness to their faith and their vocation as fathers in the leadership they show their children. In a very special way, we remember our deceased father (as I do my own father, Anastasio).
St. Joseph was the model of a father (foster-father actually), a caring and protective husband, a hard worker and wage-earner, and many other things that make him a suitable model for all men. His love for Mary and his care for the son entrusted to his care is something we need to learn in our day and age. With so many children that grow up without a father in the home, and the many men who are simply absent from the lives of their children, we need to encourage strong and supportive marriages and relationships that give witness to God's unconditional love.
Thus I find the need to focus this positive imagery of St. Joseph on the men of our parish. Men need to be encouraged today to be good husbands, fathers, workers, and basically good men through prayer and positive Christian living. I am today officially announcing the beginning of the formation of a parish men's group, modeled on the life of St. Joseph, and placing it under his protection. The St. Joseph Men's Group. Their focus would be on their spiritual life, their support for one another to live good Catholic lives, and to support and be supported by their parish community of Our Lady of the Sierra. This group would be under the auspices of the parish, the pastor, and each other. The men in the group would gather regularly to pray, to work, and to support the continue ministries of this parish.
I would like to gather men together to discuss this new venture in the Parish Hall at Our Lady of the Sierra Church on Wednesday, June 22nd at 7:00pm. If needed, we will hold another gathering at a later date to begin the commencement of our men's group.
If you are a Catholic man, of any age, wishing to gather with other men to pray, work, and serve with an open heart, please consider this endeavor by attending the meeting on Wednesday evening. If you cannot attend, but are interested, look for the next meeting, or send me an email, frmike@dioceseoffresno.org, and let me know you wish to join and participate. Once we have a good strong number and interest, we will move forward in creating and building this new asset to our wonderful parish community.
Fr. Mike
